“Last November, Johnson shocked the business world when he announced he was leaving Apple to become CEO at department store chain JC Penney. On Quora, Brian Roemmele provided this terrific answer to why Johnson made the move and what it could mean for JCP’s prospects,” Covester reports. “Why? His desire to change just about every aspect of the department store experience.”

Covester reports, “It is his plan to remake every aspect of J.C. Penney’s by 2015. In his very Steve Jobs-like presentation he presented just how ‘broke’ the traditional retail department store model has become.”

I would be willing to bet that there are many other senior management people in Apple who will migrate to other industries in the future. This migration of people who are willing to challenge existing models and who want to make things better could be a real benefit to American industry. I suppose the argument could be made that the culture of Apple (as developed by Steve Jobs) may have far reaching and (hopefully) positive effects for the US for many years to come.

Good point. Innovation comes in waves and a single unique solution for one problem can be applied to many different situations with great effect.

The only way first world countries can stay ahead of the game is by being the first to innovate. That sadly is lost on the traditional industries but they too could enhance their products by thinking differently.

Not that I shop regularly there, but there is a noticeable change in the air at JCP stores. Even the employees are pumped in a way that they haven’t been for many years. Their prices are decent, no more headaches with coupons, and the one store we go to is cleaner and laid out more efficiently. I’m impressed.

Love Ron’s work, love what he did for Apple, believe in what he’ll do for JCP. But is it just me, or is it hard to get very excited listening to him present? I know, Steve’s a tough act to follow. But seems he could use some coaching! And some coffee!

Has anyone here been to a revised JC Penny store? What’s changed? What’s new? I have an affinity to shopping. Was “damaged” as a child by mother, who was born to shop. I know, most here probably can say the same but she wrote the book. I remember one time, when I was very young, she took me to the mall to get shoes and to get the shoe store we went through one of the anchor stores at the mall. It took an hour just to advance from the first few aisles from the front door. As a kid wanting to get in and get out, this was worse than any advanced interrogation techniques like water boarding. To this day, I get cold sweats just passing a mall!

I work in the rag trade. and theres no way hes going to help JCP. They don’t have a good customer base. Its not a place people got to shop for clothing. Hes right , they are outdated. but they have huge competition that do it better. Its not like its an Apple- Microsoft situation.. on top of that JCP isn’t a well liked brand